A VULNERABLE woman was repeatedly stamped on and beaten to death with a candle and lamp in a "sustained and savage attack" at her home, the Old Bailey heard this week.

The body of Siobhan Kelly, 39, was only discovered three weeks later after her relatives became concerned at her failure to answer her phone.

Blood was found spattered around the living room and bedroom of her flat in Kendall Court, off Tudor Road, Upper Norwood.

Jurors heard that she had last been seen alive on the morning of January 15, 2011.

Later that evening she met Stephen Foad, now 42, of Foxhill Lane, Upper Norwood, and invited him back for a drink.

He later told officers that she fell over and hit her head on a bedside cabinet during an argument but was "alive and well" when he left the next morning.

But scientific examination of the scene at the flat revealed a different story, said prosecutor Duncan Atkinson.

"She was struck not just with fists but with other items including a large red candle which was found broken in the living room," he said.

Foad's fingerprints were found on the candle, the jury was told.

Jurors heard Ms Kelly was an unemployed alcoholic who was known to befriend elderly and unattractive men and take them home with her so they would buy her alcohol.

But in the weeks before her death she had been trying to turn her life around and was attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Foad denies murder.

The trial continues.